Representing the Tennessee Home Education Association, the United Christian Academy, a Hartsville enrichment program for home school students, served a barbecue lunch and performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” (both verses!) for a large lunchtime crowd made up of lawmakers, lobbyists and assorted hangers-on.

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They were accompanied by the Rogers Ensemble, a family quartet out of Franklin. They performed Pachelbel’s Canon, with a bit of “Tamlin’s Reel” thrown in to liven things up.

The music continued off and on for several hours Tuesday. Other performances included a drum corps, xylophones and a harp.

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/2012/home-school-students-hold-lunchtime-concert-at-capitol/feed/0Home school diplomas to get equal weighthttp://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/2009/home-school-diplomas-to-get-equal-weight/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/2009/home-school-diplomas-to-get-equal-weight/#commentsTue, 19 May 2009 00:45:43 +0000Chas Siskhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/?p=3720The Senate agreed Monday to give home school diplomas the same weight as regular high school diplomas. The move means home-schooled graduates will be able to hold positions in day care, police departments and other workplaces where a diploma is required by law.

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/2009/home-school-diplomas-to-get-equal-weight/feed/0Home school diploma bill brings out long debatehttp://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/2009/home-school-diploma-bill-brings-out-long-debate/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/2009/home-school-diploma-bill-brings-out-long-debate/#commentsThu, 07 May 2009 17:26:30 +0000Chas Siskhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/politics/?p=3398The House passed legislation to recognize home and church school diplomas for jobs that require a high school education, including law enforcement and childcare.

Two Nashville area Democrats, Reps. Gary Odom and Mike Turner, questioned whether the state should recognize home and church school diplomas when it doesn’t have any control over the curriculum or teachers.

“That’s what they wanted when they passed this bill,” Turner said, referring to the 1980s law that allowed home schooling in Tennessee. “Now they’re coming back and saying we want more, but they don’t want to jump through the hoops.”

Supporters, however, said the state legislature had made a policy decision not to regulate home and church schools. They also said the diplomas are recognized by Tennessee universities and the military.

“They told the government that they wanted to be left alone,” said Rep. Matthew Hill. “Now we’re back to intruding into their lives. … And for what? Because they were educated at home.”

Five votes to close off debate failed, but after a lunch break and the institution of a 30-minute shot clock (a rarely invoked rule lets the calendar committee declare a time limit on debate when the reps just can’t quit arguing), the House voted 61-27 to pass the measure.